Entertainment
'Real Housewives of Melbourne' Season 2 All Have US 'Real Housewives' Franchise Doppelgangers, Naturally
In social circles, you might not hear me proclaiming my selective following of The Real Housewives franchise, but in the privacy of my own living room, you will find me eagerly awaiting the arrival of The Real Housewives of Melbourne cast. Australian accents and age-defying bandage dresses? Count me all the way in.
As Bravo has found with Shahs of Sunset (and tried with Euros of Hollywood), the best way to keep breaking new ground with the exact same format is to bring heretofore untelevised cultures and subcultures into the mix. And there just simply isn't enough fun-loving Aussie culture on American television. So, let's get an early look at the most glamorous "housewives" of Melbourne's cast bios and consider the archetypal Real Housewives that paved the way for them before Andy Cohen delivers seven new "ladies" to our pinot-grigio-loving DVR doorstep Thursday night...
Image: John Tsiavis/Bravo
Pettifleur Berenger
Yes! What is better than a Real Housewife that’s a boss in the workplace too? Melbourne has them in spades, with Pettifleur and her “rags to riches” story is at the head of the pack. Pettifleur moved from Sri Lanka to Australia in her late teens and started what has now become a highly successful property development business; and she has the penthouse to prove it. Bravo’s description of her as “determined, feisty and glamorous” with a longtime partner, Frank, who is her ”rock, soul mate and constant travelling companion,” just screams Lisa (and Ken) Vanderpump. Not to mention… the shoes.
Image: John Tsiavis/Bravo
Jackie Gillies
Jackie is the youngest of the Melbourne Housewives, which might bring to mind Brandi Glanville or Bethenny Frankel, but let me hit you with a curveball: Allison DuBois. No, Allison — lover of Camille Grammer and e-cigarettes — wasn’t an actual housewife but she was, like Jackie, a high profile psychic. A few things about Jackie: she’s an “insightful, spiritual” psychic to the Australian stars; her husband is the drummer for Australian rock band, Silverchair; they were childhood sweethearts who reconnected 14 years after they met; and together they’re developing an alcoholic tea line as a part of their already successful ready-to-serve cocktail brand.
I’m predicting Jackie is as delightfully wacky as she seems.
Image: John Tsiavis/Bravo
Janet Roach
I don’t begin to presume what’s going on with that body armor dress, but Bravo tells me it might have something to do with Janet’s tough single gal status: She rid herself of her now ex-husband after catching him cheating online, and as a self-made business woman, will proudly tell you she’s worth more than him anyway. All the sass and brass strike me as landing Janet somewhere between Vicki from Orange County and Sonja from New York. Bring on the self-discovery!
Image: John Tsiavis/Bravo
Lydia Schiavello
Both chic and kind of confusing — what’s under the coat, Lydia? — Lydia is full Yolanda Foster with the crazy successful husband, picture perfect household, and philanthropy work to prove it. Bravo describes Lydia as an accomplished “hostess, interior decorator, cook and skier,” which is all probably true, but it sounds like, lately, a lot of that design education from RMIT University has been applied to renovating her lavish home designed by renowned architect husband, Andrew Norbury. I’m sure Gigi and Bella would fit right in with Lydia’s two sons, one daughter, and three step-children.
Image: John Tsiavis/Bravo
Gina Liano
The fact that Gina is a “Criminal Barrister” makes me jump to Phaedra Parks comparisons, but with sons in their twenties and the fact that she’s referred to as “the glue… everyone’s first point of contact in a crisis,” there’s something about Gina that subtly screams Caroline Mazo. After surviving a fight with cancer, Gina became determined to live her life to the fullest; that includes a shoe line, a book deal for her autobiography, defending both big clients and “the little guy” in the courtroom, and becoming the new Ambassador for the Cancer Council of Victoria. Busy woman!
Image: John Tsiavis/Bravo
Chyka Keebaugh
With a highly successful catering company, a husband who doubles as her best friend, and two vivacious teenagers, and a Bravo-described ”quiet confidence and positive outlook on life,” Chyka sounds like she could be the Australian twin of Kathy Wakile. But whereas Kathy mostly flew under the radar with so many other big New Jersey personalities, Chyka’s love of the glam life, and super elite catering clientele make her ”one of Melbourne’s most liked and well-connected Housewives.”
Image: John Tsiavis/Bravo
Gamble Breaux
It’s hard to pin down Gamble, probably because she sounds like the most Housewife-y of all the Melbourne ladies, and because her name seems like it could be a fancy cocktail, a stripper’s stage name, an indie rock band, or some combination of all three. Gamble is a former model (of course!), married to an eye surgeon (yes!), with a “desire for all things ‘Pomeranian’” and a handbag line (what else?). She reminds me of Camille Grammer on devotion the Housewife lifestyle alone, not to mention the killer face and figure thanks to being a “maintenance fanatic.” I simply can’t wait to watch her “[practice] the performance art of Poi by her fabulous infinity pool..”
Image: John Tsiavis/Bravo
